For
37 years, Boeing's 747 "Jumbo Jet" was the largest
commercial passenger aircraft in the world. The iconic aircraft was
the bread and butter for the company, but sales have dropped as
airlines have looked to the much more advanced and fuel efficient
Airbus A380.

The Airbus A380 has not been without its problems
though, some of which forced a delay in the development of the much
awaited A380 freighter
variant. Half of the world's air freight is carried on freighter
versions of the 747, so Boeing saw a huge market opportunity.

The
design of the previous generation, the 747-400,
goes back to 1985. The new 747-800 series is much more advanced, and uses
four of General Electric's GEnx-2B engines using technology developed for the 787
Dreamliner. The new aircraft will be larger and quieter, as well
as more fuel-efficient and environmentally
friendly.

Lower operating costs are the main reason why
many current 747 operators are looking to purchase new planes. There
are currently 76 orders for the 747-8F freighter model and 32 orders
for the 747-8I Intercontinental passenger model.

Boeing
completed the first test flight of a 747-8F yesterday from Paine
Field in Everett, Washington. There are more than 1,600 flight hours
in the test program scheduled.

"It was a real privilege
to be at the controls of this great airplane on its first flight,
representing the thousands of folks who made today possible,"
said 747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein. "The airplane performed as
expected and handled just like a 747-400."

A 747-8I could
fly in the future as Air
Force One, especially since Airbus has decided not to put in a
bid. The current fleet uses two highly modified 747-200B aircraft
delivered in 1990. They are scheduled to be replaced by 2017.

First
deliveries of the 747-800 series are expected to begin by the end of this
year.

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